American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 1
VIRTUAL PALESTINE ADVOCACY DAYS SEPTEMBER 14-18, 2020
PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL
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AMP MISSION STATEMENT
American Muslims for Palestine is dedicated to advancing the movement for justice in Palestine through education, advocacy, and grassroots mobilization. AMP is committed to ending U.S. support for the Israeli occupation, raising awareness about the plight of the Palestinian people, and supporting Palestinians’ right to freedom, justice, and self-determination in accordance with international law.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
American Muslims for Palestine offers participants a wide range of lectures and workshops for their edification. However, speakers’ views and opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect AMP’s positions.
No recording or videotaping of the training session or plenary is permitted. AMP will post official videos of events it wishes to make public. Under no circumstances should participants record or videotape their meetings with Members of Congress or their staff. Screenshots of your meetings may be taken only with the consent of the Member of Congress or their staff. PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
Guests shall not disrupt speakers during lectures/speeches and such violations will be cause for immediate expulsion from the program.
All participants shall behave in an appropriate and respectful manner.
No hate speech or bigotry of any kind will be tolerated, and such violations will be cause for immediate expulsion from the program.
Anyone speaking in contravention of AMP’s mission statement during Congressional meetings will be removed from the virtual meetings.
AMP’S ANTI-RACISM - ANTI-BIGOTRY STATEMENT
American Muslims for Palestine upholds inherent human rights for all people everywhere and firmly stands against all forms of bigotry and racism. AMP is opposed to all forms of racism and bigotry, including Islamophobia, antisemitism, anti-Black racism, xenophobia, and other forms of bigotry. American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 5
A WELCOME FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I have been writing this welcome letter for six consecutive years now. With the grace of Allah, our Palestine Advocacy Day (PAD) has only been growing. We are not only increasing in numbers; rather, we are also becoming more effective. Your presence is being felt and your voices are being heard. Israel is no longer a taboo in public and political discourse. Palestine is no longer alien to the broader social justice movement. This would not have been the case had it not been for our collective dedication, resilience, and efforts. Palestine today has a voice in the United States, a voice that transcends religion, race, ideologies, and politics, and that voice is you.
Dr. Osama Abuirshaid A testament to this new reality is the Executive Director debate that has been unfolding in public relative to Palestine/Israel in the past few years, which has only intensified in 2020. Americans are becoming more comfortable speaking out against Israel’s brutal policies. Many elected officials are finding the courage to take on the influential pro-Israel lobby. It is no longer political suicide to speak up for Palestinian rights and to criticize Israel. The trajectory is changing and the tide is shifting in this country!
Multiple recent and credible public opinion polls confirm the steadily diminishing status of Israel in the US and a rise in empathy for the Palestinians. Millennials, including Jewish youth, tend to be more pro-Palestine than pro- Israel. Same with people of color. Our struggles for justice are one, and our freedom is interconnected. Israel and its US lobby’s identification with the administration’s racist policies are providing a clear contrast between those who stand for freedom, justice, and equality for all, and those who stand against these values. PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
Have you asked yourself why Israel’s lobby and its allies are determined to pass bills that infringe on our constitutional rights, mainly freedom of expression? Have you asked yourself why Israel’s lobby is unleashing an unethical campaign demonizing organizations and individuals, including college students, active for Palestine?
Simply put, they know that they cannot win on the merits and the facts of the debate. The only way left for them is to resort to fabrication and character assassination. But even this is proving to have major limits now. People are becoming more aware of the facts and these draconian tactics. We should not allow them to intimidate us.
We can continue to analyze and deconstruct the new trajectory. And we can continue to discuss the new positive dynamics for our fight for justice in Palestine here in the US. But this will mean nothing if we fail to create a good recipe from the raw ingredients that favor our struggle and plight. That is why we have to double, triple and quadruple our efforts. That is why we initiated PAD six years ago. It is a tool to help us mobilize, train, and strategize for Palestine. However, this is not the only tool that we are providing as an organization. We have so many other tools for you to utilize with which you will be acquainted throughout this program.
Friends, we are creating a movement for Palestine with people from all backgrounds. Our efforts are poised to succeed and bear fruit. We have a potential to serve Palestine and other causes of justice, and we need to fulfill this potential. Nothing can stop us unless we falter in realizing our potential. We should not create a vacuum only for the other side to fill. Justice in Palestine must be on the national agenda. And if we want to defeat the “steal of the century” and annexation, and avert another betrayal of the Palestinian people that will only perpetuate their suffering, then we MUST act now. We are on the right side of history. Let us fulfill our obligation and our potential.
In solidarity,
Dr. Osama Abuirshaid Executive Director American Muslims for Palestine American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 7
STAFF
Dr. Osama Abuirshaid Tarek Khalil Executive Director Education Coordinator [email protected] [email protected]
Nour Abughoush Raed Jarrar Chicago Coordinator Advocacy Director chicagocoordinator@ [email protected] ampalestine.org
Zarefah Baroud Josh Ruebner Digital Media Associate Managing Director [email protected] [email protected]
Mohamad Habehh Malak Shalabi Development Coordinator Legal and Advocacy Intern [email protected] [email protected]
Taher Herzallah Shakeel Syed Outreach Director West Coast Director [email protected] [email protected]
PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
AMP CHAPTERS
AMP-Bay Area
AMP-Chicago
AMP-Connecticut
AMP-Minnesota
AMP-Missouri
AMP-New Jersey
AMP-North Carolina
AMP-Texas American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 9
AMP WELCOMES OUR DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS
َ PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
PALESTINE ADVOCACY DAYS SEPTEMBER 14-18, 2020 | FULL PROGRAM
DAY 1: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 - ADVOCACY TRAINING
Welcome and Opening Session A welcome to AMP’s Virtual Palestine Advocacy Days Speaker: Osama Abuirshaid 1:30-1:45 PM EST Staff Introductions: All Speaker: Josh Ruebner Speaker: Felicia Eaves
Session 1#: What Are Our Legislative Asks?
This session is an overview of the legislative and policy issues we’ll be addressing in our meetings with Members of Congress. Hear some inspiring success stories from experienced legislative advocates. 1:45 - 2:15 PM EST Introduction: Raed Jarrar Speaker: Hilary Shelton Speaker: Brad Parker Speaker: Beth Miller Speaker: Laila Mokhiber
2:15 -2:30 PM EST Q&A
Holding Effective Meetings with Your Members of Congress
How to make our interactions with Members of Congress effective and build long-term relationships to achieve 2:30 - 2:50 PM EST meaningful outcomes. Learn how to use our new advocacy app!
Speaker: Raed Jarrar & Kate Gould
2:50 - 3:00 PM EST Closing Remarks: Dr. Osama Abuirshaid American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 11
PALESTINE ADVOCACY DAYS SEPTEMBER 14-18, 2020 | FULL PROGRAM
DAY 2: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 - PLENARY SESSIONS
Opening Session and Keynote Address
1:30 - 1:50 PM EST Introduction: Malak Shalabi Welcome/Award Presentation: Dr. Osama Abuirshaid Keynote Address: Rep. Betty McCollum
Defund Israeli Human Rights Abuses, Re-Fund Palestinian Needs Members of Congress and civil society advocates will share their perspectives on the situation on the ground in Palestine and what we can do to reorient US policy to 1:50 - 2:25 PM EST support human rights and needs.
Introduction: Raed Jarrar Speaker: Rep. Debbie Dingell Speaker: Rep. Judy Chu Speaker: Rep. Rashida Tlaib Framing Remarks: Hanan Ashrawi
Racial Justice Here and Abroad: Opposing Segregation & Annexation
Introduction: Raed Jarrar Framing Remarks: Salih Booker Rep. André Carson 2:25 - 3:00 PM EST Speaker: Framing Remarks: Diana Buttu Speaker: Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. Respondent: Rasha Mubarak Conclusion: Ahmed Shihab-Eldin Closing Remarks: Dr. Hatem Bazian
DAYS 3-5: WED, SEPT 16 - FRI, SEPT 18 - MEETINGS WITH CONGRESS PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
AMP CONTACT INFO IN CASE YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR CONGRESSIONAL MEETINGS
Advocacy day hotline: (888) AMP - 1948
If you have questions about meeting times, webinar links, or messaging, call our hotline and someone from AMP’s team will help you out.
ALL YOUR CUSTOMIZED MEETING INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ONLINE bit.ly/AdvocateForPalestine2020
Our agenda, your customized congressional meeting information, and talking points are just a click away! Please go to http://bit.ly/AdvocateForPalestine2020 and log in using your email. American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 13
VPAD 2020: MEETING WITH YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
We welcome your participation in our virtual 2020 Palestine Advocacy Days with Members of Congress. Below are some tips to help prepare you for your meetings with your representatives and senators in Congress. AMP has scheduled meetings for you, but it’s up to you to try to help ensure that the meetings are successful!
AMP’s annual Palestine Advocacy Days is an opportunity for you to bring the issue of Palestine to your elected officials and to promote Palestinian rights. You’ll also be playing a vital role in supporting AMP’s legislative work on Capitol Hill and helping to support our issues.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO PREPARE FOR THE MEETINGS
During the virtual training sessions on Monday, you’ll be joining AMP participants from across the country, and we will work together to prepare for meetings with your elected officials during your meetings later that week.
AMP has assigned state delegation leaders to organize follow-up practice sessions with you for your Senate meetings during which roles and responsibilities for the meetings will be assigned. In addition, we strongly encourage people who are meeting with their Representative as part of a group of constituents to self-organize a similar session to practice and assign roles for that meeting. AMP will share contact information with you of other constituents who will be joining you for these House meetings so that you can self-organize. PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
Below are some additional helpful tips and reminders:
Do your homework before the Advocacy Day meetings with Congress.
Learn as much as possible about the bills and/or issues that we plan to discuss with our lawmakers. AMP will provide you with background information prior to the meeting. Study it carefully and learn your talking points.
Research the background of the legislator(s) you plan to meet with: Find out which committees they chair and/or serve on, how many years each of them have been in office, and their positions on the specific bill(s) and issue(s) that will be discussed during the meeting. Also become familiar with their overall positions/votes regarding Palestine/ Israel and Palestinian rights. American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 15
If the number of people in your delegation is no more than five, each participant should be assigned a specific role during the meeting. Roles include:
One participant assigned as the lead spokesperson to explain the purpose of your meeting , and be in charge of concluding the meeting and thanking the legislator or aide(s) for meeting with your group.
Assign 2 to 3 participants to explain why your group thinks the legislator should support or oppose the bill(s) or specific issue(s) currently being debated in Congress.
Other participants should share the responsibility of being the time- keeper, taking notes, and sending a follow-up thank you email afterward.
For more than 5 participants at the meeting, assign 3 to 5 participants the roles described above. The person who is assigned to start and conclude the meeting should also introduce all the participants at the start of the meeting by name (unless your group is larger than two dozen).
Please note: Due to the limited amount of time for the meeting— usually no more than 15 – 30 minutes—it’s important to allow the bulk of the meeting to focus on explaining why your group supports or opposes the bill(s) or issue(s) under discussion. PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
IMPORTANT MEETING TIPS
Be punctual, patient, and look the part. Show up on time and be patient. It is common for legislators and/or their aides to be late to constituent meetings or to be interrupted by other business. Make sure you are dressed professionally, in business attire, as though you are going to a job interview. Remember that first impressions can make a difference, including how seriously you will be taken.
Start with introductions. If it is a small group (no more than 5 participants), participants should introduce themselves. If it’s a larger group (over 5 people), the person who is assigned to explain the purpose for the meeting should first introduce everyone by name (unless your group is larger than two dozen people).
Thank the legislator or aide(s) for taking time to meet with you.
State your case briefly and stay on topic! Make sure you do not veer off topic or allow anyone to steer your party off the subject that you are there to discuss. Your meeting will be short so you want to ensure you stay focused on the issue(s) at hand.
Lawmakers base decisions on personal experience. When you can relate an issue to your Member of Congress and give real examples, rather than abstract concepts, then your message hits home.
Be clear when you bring up your “ask.” You’re not being forward or inappropriate by asking for something specific. In fact, they will expect you to ask something of them.
You don’t need to be an expert; the most important thing is to tell your story as a constituent. The best way to do this is by using personal anecdotes – but you must be very brief and concise. Keep in mind that others in your group need time to tell their stories/anecdotes too.
Let the legislator or aide(s) ask questions as you go along. You don’t have to agree with his or her views, but you should show that you are willing to hear them. American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 17
If you don’t know the answer to a question, tell the representative/ aide(s) that you will be glad to provide that information for them later. Never make up an answer to a question – giving inaccurate information can seriously damage your credibility. AMP can help you with providing follow-up information.
Be courteous and respectful – not argumentative. Keep the door open for further discussion despite any apparently negative attitudes.
End the visit on a positive note. Thank the elected official/aide(s) for their time. Ask that you be put on their mailing list and leave your contact information.
Send a thank-you email to the person with whom you met. Ask for their contact info and write them an email to thank them for the meeting and request to follow-up on the issues you are lobbying.
This is just the beginning of the road—not the end! We can’t emphasize enough that your participation in Palestine Advocacy Days is only the beginning of your work as a citizen advocate. You must continue to follow up with your lawmaker in your congressional district and request meetings in their local offices to hold them accountable and continue to push them on the issues. PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
REPORT BACK TO AMP
Appoint someone in your delegation to report back to AMP about how your meetings went. We’d like to know:
How did the legislator respond to your “ask”? Did they ask questions, and if so, how did your group respond?
Did they tell you how they plan to vote on the bill(s)? If they didn’t commit to support or oppose during the meeting, how do you think they will vote?
If it’s a bill we support, are they willing to be a co-sponsor?
Is there anything you need help with from AMP in order to follow up with the legislator/aide(s)?
Are you interested in volunteering to do more to build upon the relationship your group has started building?
Please use the “legislator contact form” to report back after each meeting: http://bit.ly/AdvocateForPalestine2020 American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 19
LEGISLATIVE ASKS
President Trump’s “deal of the century” has delivered nothing but promises of further dispossession and apartheid. Rather than achieving peace, this plan has only emboldened the Israeli government to continue its policies of land theft and aggression against Palestinians. The recent Israeli-UAE deal to normalize relations in exchange for suspending Israel’s impending annexation of additional Palestinian land does not change this fact. De facto annexation through colonization and forced displacement of Palestinians continues on a daily basis and annexation is not off the table. AMP condemns this plan and calls for a just peace based on human rights, dignity, freedom, and equality for all.
In addition, George Floyd’s killing by police has led to a much-needed national conversation about racial justice. Despite massive and sustained protests led by Black people and supported by people of all backgrounds, police are still injuring and killing Black people. AMP has embarked upon a commitment to strengthen its anti-racism work and solidarity with Black people for their liberation. For this reason, we are also lobbying for a racial justice bill because we understand that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously stated.
This year we will be meeting with our members of Congress in the Senate and House of Representatives to deliver very specific demands, or, as we refer to them, “asks”. Here is a list of our “asks” for both the House and Senate. The following few pages provide details about each so you can familiarize yourself with them. PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
Our “asks” for the US House of Representatives:
1- Support the Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act, H.R.2407 This bill would prevent US Foreign Military Financing from being used by Israel to militarily detain, interrogate, abuse, or impose ill-treatment upon children in violation of international law.
2- Support the Israeli Annexation Non-Recognition Act, H.R.8050 This legislation would prohibit US recognition of Israeli annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank and would cut off all forms of US funding to Israel used to directly or indirectly support annexation.
Our “asks” for the US Senate:
1- Support a Senate companion bill to the Israeli Annexation Non-Recognition Act Ask Senators to introduce or cosponsor a Senate version of H.R.8050.
2- Support the Justice in Policing Act, S.3912 Ask Senators to cosponsor and encourage the Senate Majority Leader to bring to a vote this critical racial justice bill, already passed by the House, to root out racism in our system of policing, stop violence at the hands of law enforcement officers, and eliminate barriers to meaningful accountability.
3- Support UNRWA and humanitarian aid funding in FY2021 appropriations bill Ask Senators to follow the lead of the House in directing the administration to fund UNRWA and including extra humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people in the FY2021 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Program Appropriations Act. American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 21
Congressional Backgrounder - HOUSE ONLY
Issue: Support the Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act, H.R.2407
comment-alt Ask
Thank Representatives who have cosponsored this bill.
Ask Representatives who have NOT cosponsored this bill to consider sponsoring it.
Talking points
This bill would amend the Leahy Law, an existing provision in the Foreign Assistance Act, which is designed to prevent US assistance from being used by foreign militaries to commit gross human rights violations. It would add that “no funds authorized to be appropriated for assistance to a foreign country may be used to support the military detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of children in violation of international humanitarian law,” a clear reference to Israel’s policies.
The bill also would authorize the United States to spend $19 million annually to fund nongovernmental organizations in their efforts to “monitor, assess, and document incidents of Palestinian children subjected to Israeli military detention” and to create a publicly available annual report documenting these efforts. PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
file-alt Background
The United States provides Israel with $3.8 billion annually in military aid, which enables the military detention and abuse of Palestinian children through Israel’s military judicial system.
Israel detains and prosecutes between 500-700 Palestinian children each year in a military court system that lacks basic and fundamental guarantees of due process in violation of international standards.
Israel is the only country in the world that systematically detains, interrogates, abuses, and imprisons children in a separate-and-unequal military judicial system lacking in fundamental due process guarantees. Israel’s own policies and behaviors have created a unique situation that merits a unique response by Congress.
envelope-open Contact
If you have questions or follow up, please contact AMP’s Advocacy Director Raed Jarrar at [email protected]. American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 23
Congressional Backgrounder--HOUSE AND SENATE
Issue: Support the Israeli Annexation Non-Recognition Act, H.R.8050
comment-alt Ask
Thank Representatives who have co-sponsored this bill. Ask Representatives who have NOT cosponsored this bill to consider sponsoring it. Ask Senators to introduce or cosponsor a Senate companion version of this bill.
Talking points
This bill is important because it would prohibit the United States from recognizing Israel’s further de jure illegal annexation of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, and prevent the United States from funding either directly or indirectly Israeli actions to maintain or support annexation. The majority of Members of Congress are already on record as being opposed to Israeli annexation. But we need more than words; we need actions and consequences should Israel illegally annex more Palestinian land, which is exactly what this bill does.
This bill is necessary despite the announcement by the Trump administration that Israel is suspending plans to pursue annexation in exchange for normalizing relations with the UAE. Both Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Trump administration officials have subsequently clarified that de jure annexation of Palestinian land is not off the table. Such annexation is a real possibility between now and November, which is why it is important for Members of Congress to signal to Israel now that there will be tangible consequences should it do so. PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
file-alt Background
Israel has been in belligerent military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, since June 1967. It is illegal under international law for an Occupying Power to unilaterally annex Occupied Territory. Despite this fact, Israel de facto annexed East Jerusalem in 1967 and de jure annexed it in 1980. Israel also de jure annexed the occupied Syrian Golan Heights in 1981. The Trump administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the moving of the US embassy, along with his recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, has upended decades of bipartisan US policy to not recognize Israel’s illegal annexations.
The Trump administration’s Israeli-Palestinian plan, released in January 2020, gives Israel the green light to illegally and unilaterally annex as much as 30 percent of the West Bank outside the framework of negotiations. After publication of the plan, Israel and the United States set up a joint committee to agree upon areas to be annexed. While the UAE-Israel agreement has temporarily suspended annexation plans, they are not off the table.
Regardless of whether or not Israel formally annexes additional Palestinian land in the West Bank, Israel’s de facto annexation of Palestinian land continues on a daily basis through its illegal colonization, home demolitions, and forced displacement of Palestinians.
envelope-open Contact
If you have questions or follow up, please contact AMP’s Advocacy Director Raed Jarrar at [email protected]. American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 25
Congressional Backgrounder--SENATE
Issue: Support the Justice in Policing Act, S.3912
comment-alt Ask
Thank Senators who have co-sponsored this bill. Ask Senators who have NOT cosponsored this bill to consider sponsoring it.
Talking points
The recent police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the police chokehold killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and the police “no-knock” killing of Breonna Taylor in her home in Louisville are all recent examples of the excessive force and brutality that police unfortunately employ disproportionately against Black people. These are not cases of “a few bad apples,” but part and parcel of the systemic racism of policing in the United States. We need comprehensive changes to root out racism in police interactions with people of color and the Justice in Policing Act is a step in the right direction.
This bill would institute a comprehensive and much-needed set of reforms to policing which go well beyond the narrower set of reforms in President Trump’s Executive Order and the Justice Act, introduced by Sen. Tim Scott. According to the NAACP, the Justice in Policing Act would ban chokeholds, “no-knock” arrests warrants in drug cases in which police forcibly enter homes without first allowing the residents to open their doors, and racial and religious profiling. PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
The bill would also end “qualified immunity,” a legal doctrine which often enables police to evade personal accountability in courts for their brutality. The bill would establish a national registry of police misconduct to make it difficult for officers with a history of brutality from being employed on other police forces, and a national databank on police use of lethal force, statistics which are incredibly not aggregated by the federal government. The bill proposes many other important reforms as well, such as mandating body cameras, funding independent counsel to review cases of police misconduct, and making lynching a federal crime. file-alt Background
Ending police brutality, especially toward Black people, would be one extremely important component in ending racial injustice in our judicial system. As Professor Michelle Alexander noted in her groundbreaking book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, the racist foundations of our entire police and judicial systems need to be comprehensively reworked. Not only are Black people brutalized disproportionately by the police. Black communities are also over- policed, Black people are arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced to jail terms at much higher rates than whites despite the fact that there is virtually no difference in levels of law-breaking, and Black people upon release from the carceral system or paroled are shut out of virtually all governmental benefits and oftentimes many professions, making education, employment, health care, and housing unattainable.
According to Amnesty International, police kill roughly 1,000 people per year. In 2019, Black people were less than 13% of the population but accounted for nearly 25% of fatalities by police, showing the disproportionately of their brutalization. Between 2005 and 2019, only three police officers were convicted of murder in these fatalities.
For additional information on this bill, please see the fact sheets of the NAACP and Amnesty International. American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 27
Congressional Backgrounder--SENATE ONLY
Issue: Fund UNRWA and Humanitarian Aid for Palestinians
comment-alt Ask
Ask Senators to follow the lead of the House in directing the administration to fund UNRWA and including extra humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people in the FY2021 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Program Appropriations Act.
Talking Points
Congress has taken the first steps toward restoring humanitarian funding for Palestinian refugees. In July, the House of Representatives approved H.R.7608, appropriations legislation that directs the State Department to fund UNRWA. The bill also directs an additional $225m in other humanitarian assistance funding to the West Bank and Gaza.
The Senate may not take up this legislation before the November election. But the issue will be debated before the end of the calendar year. It is critical the funding proposed by the House be retained in the final version of the Department of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act for FY2021.
The Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network, an organization created and funded by 18 nations – including the United States – concluded after a year-long review of UNRWA operations that the Agency’s “way of working and the results it is achieving in a resource-constrained environment reflect a well-managed organization that delivers.” PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
Despite this success, UNRWA’s important work has been jeopardized by the Trump administration’s 2018 decision to terminate all humanitarian assistance to Palestine refugees - including $ 360M for UNRWA and $ 250M in related USAID programs.
Between now and the end of the year, to meet the needs of Palestine refugees, UNRWA urgently requires $200 million for its Program Budget, $ 95 million to continue its COVID- 19 response, and $ 43 million for Syria and the occupied Palestinian territory, primarily to sustain food and cash assistance to one million poor refugees in Gaza and over 400,000 in Syria and Lebanon.
file-alt Background
Established by the UN General Assembly in 1949, the mission of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is to assist Palestine refugees in reaching their full human development potential until a just and lasting solution is found to the refugee crisis. The Agency is widely recognized as an important source of stability in a volatile region. Over 93 percent of financial contributions to the Agency come from voluntary contributions from UN Member States, the European Union and regional governments.
Unique among UN agencies, UNRWA delivers services directly to Palestine refugees, including educating 534,000 students annually at over 700 schools, operating a primary healthcare system with 8.5 million annual patient visits, and other critical humanitarian relief services including feeding over one million Palestine refugees in Gaza. Over 99 percent of UNRWA’s 30,000 staff are locally hired.
The Agency’s long experience working in conflict zones allowed it to quickly and effectively respond to the COVID pandemic by rapidly shifting its health services to telemedicine, education to e-learning, and food delivery from distribution centers to home delivery. UNRWA’s Commissioner General recently credited previous support from the United States for helping to create the infrastructure that allowed for such a quick pivot. American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 29
MEET OUR DISTINGUISHED SPEAKERS (in alphabetical order)
Osama Abuirshaid Dr. Osama Abuirshaid is the Executive Director and Board Member of AMP, where he previously served as its National Policy Director. He is on the board of the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), an umbrella organization of eight major national American Muslim organizations. A highly sought after political analyst and commentator, Dr. Abuirshaid is co-author of the study: “Hamas: Ideological Rigidity and Political Flexibility,” which was published by the United States Institute of Peace in 2009. Dr. Abuirshaid is a regular commentator on American domestic and foreign policy on various Arabic satellite networks, such as Al Jazeera. He is a community activist and speaker. Abuirshaid completed his PhD in Political Science at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.
Hanan Ashrawi Dr. Hanan Ashrawi is a distinguished Palestinian leader, legislator, activist, and scholar who served as a member of the Leadership Committee and as an official spokesperson of the Palestinian delegation to the Middle East peace process. Making history as the first woman to hold a seat in the highest executive body in Palestine, she was elected as member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 2009 and most recently in 2018. As a civil society activist, she founded the Independent Commission for Human Rights (1994), MIFTAH, the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (1998) and AMAN, the National Coalition for Accountability and Integrity (1999). She serves on the advisory and international boards of several global, regional and local organizations. She is the recipient of numerous awards from all over the world, along with several academic accolades, including eleven honorary doctorates from universities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the Arab world. PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
Hatem Bazian Dr. Hatem Bazian is a co-founder and Professor of Islamic Law and Theology at Zaytuna College. He is also a lecturer in the Departments of Near Eastern and Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. He teaches courses on Islamic Law and Society, Islam in America: Communities and Institutions, De- Constructing Islamophobia and Othering of Islam, Religious Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies. In addition to academic work, Dr. Bazian is founder and national Chair of American Muslims for Palestine, board member of the Islamic Scholarship Fund, Muslim Legal Fund of America, President of Dollar for Deen Charity, and Chair of Northern California Islamic Council.
Salih Booker Salih Booker has over thirty years of experience in international affairs and US foreign policy, including leadership of several U.S. and international research and advocacy organizations. Booker became President of the Center for International Policy in September 2017. From 2017-2015, he served as the vice president of external relations at the United States Institute of Peace, and before that as an advisor to the executive secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Booker directed the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions in Geneva, Switzerland, and was executive director at Global Rights and Africa Action, both in Washington, D.C.
Diana Buttu Diana Buttu is a Ramallah-based analyst, former legal advisor to Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian negotiators, and Policy Advisor to Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network. She was also recently a fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. After earning a law degree from Queen's University in Canada and a Masters of Law from Stanford University, Buttu moved to Palestine in 2000. Shortly after her arrival, the second Intifada began and she took a position with the Negotiations Support Unit of the PLO. American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 31
Rep. André Carson Congressman André D. Carson, now in his 6th full term in the U.S. House of Representatives, has established himself as an influential leader and respected public servant, fighting for good paying jobs, economic growth, and safer communities for Indiana’s working families. In the 116th Congress, Congressman Carson serves as the Chairman of Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Counterproliferation Subcommittee. As one of three Muslims serving in Congress, Congressman Carson is a champion for vulnerable populations and is committed to the goal of equal protection under the law. André has long been involved in the fight to achieve gender fairness, religious freedom, and LGBTQ equality.
Rep. Judy Chu Judy Chu was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2009. She represents the 27th Congressional District, which includes Pasadena and the west San Gabriel Valley of southern California. Rep. Chu currently serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over legislation pertaining to taxes, revenues, Social Security, and Medicare. In that Committee, Rep. Chu is a member of the Subcommittees on Health, giving her oversight over healthcare reform and crucial safety net programs, Worker and Family Support, and Oversight.
Rep. Debbie Dingell Congresswoman Debbie Dingell represents the 12th District of Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives. An active civic and community leader, she is a recognized national advocate for women and children. For more than 30 years Debbie served one of Michigan’s largest employers, the General Motors (GM) Corporation, where she was President of the GM Foundation and a senior executive responsible for public affairs. In her commitment to job creation, Debbie led the effort to bring the 10,000 Small Businesses initiative, a $ 20 million partnership designed to help create jobs and economic growth, to southeast Michigan. She is a past chair of the Manufacturing Initiative at the American Automotive Policy Council. PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
Felicia Eaves Felicia Eaves has been a human rights advocate and activist for the last 30 years. She has worked on and within a range of issues and movements including environmental justice, health equity, and peace/ anti-war. Through her work within the peace and anti-war movement, Felicia became active on the issue of Palestinian rights as she became a long-time member and Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights. Felicia has been and continues to be committed to ensuring that equity and justice is a viable reality for People of Color and other marginalized communities who have been and continue to be beset by centuries of institutional and systemic racial, social, political and economic injustices, not only in the United States but globally.
Kate Gould Kate Gould is a Senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. House of Representatives. Before coming to the Hill, Kate served as the Legislative Director for Middle East Policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation (Quakers). Kate was named as one of the “Top Lobbyists of 2018” by The Hill, and profiled in 2015 as the “Quaker Lobbyist Behind the Iran Deal Fight” by Congressional Quarterly.
Note: Kate is participating in this panel in her personal capacity and will not be speaking on behalf of her employer.
Raed Jarrar Raed Jarrar is AMP’s Advocacy Director. He is a Palestinian-American blogger and political advocate based in Washington, DC. Since his immigration to the US in 2005, he has worked as a lobbyist on political issues pertaining to Palestine and the US engagement in the Arab and Muslim worlds. Widely recognized as an expert on political, social, and economic developments in the Middle East, he has testified in numerous Congressional hearings and briefings, led national advocacy days in Washington, DC, and is a frequent guest on national and international media outlets in both Arabic and English. American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 33
Rep. Betty McCollum Betty McCollum is a Democrat representing the families of Minnesota’s Fourth District in the United States House of Representatives. In 2000, Congresswoman McCollum made history as only the second Minnesota woman elected to serve in Congress since statehood in 1858. McCollum represents the residents of Minnesota's capital city, St. Paul, as well as all of Ramsey County and most of Washington County. Throughout her career in public service, Congresswoman McCollum has been a champion for excellence in education, protecting the environment, expanding health care access, fiscal responsibility, and robust international engagement that prioritizes diplomacy and development, along with a strong national defense.
Beth Miller Beth Miller is the Senior Government Affairs Manager for Jewish Voice for Peace and Jewish Voice for Peace Action (the 501(c)(4) political and advocacy arm of JVP). She has been deeply involved with the Palestinian rights movement for nine years, including her time as the US Advocacy Officer for Defense for Children International Palestine (DCIP) and as a longtime member leader with the NYC chapter of JVP. She holds an MA in Human Rights Law from SOAS University of London.
Laila Mokhiber Laila brings a decade of experience in public relations, creating and managing nonprofit communications, and raising funds for a variety of progressive organizations. Prior to joining UNRWA USA as its Communications Officer in 2013, she managed the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee’s (ADC) communications and outreach efforts. Her current role and that at ADC illustrate Laila’s passions: humanitarian concern for the people of Palestine and the fight for social justice. Laila has proudly served her local Arab American community as a board member of the Network of Arab American Professionals DC Chapter (NAAP-DC), the DC Palestinian Film and Arts Festival (DCPFAF), and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (DC Chapter). She currently acts as an afikra DC ambassador, and is the board president of Open Roads Media. PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
Rasha Mubarak Rasha Mubarak is the founder and president of UNBOUGHT POWER. She is a Palestinian-American Muslim community activist, consultant, political strategist, and leader, who was named “10 People Making Orlando a Better Place to Be” and “2019 Florida Young Democrat of the Year”. Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in the heart of Central Florida, Rasha is a grassroots organizer and political advocate for national, statewide, and local political candidates and campaigns around civil rights, human rights, interfaith work, immigration rights, and Black and Brown liberation. Rasha has 15 years of experience as a bilingual progressive organizer and political strategist specializing in: advocacy, non-profit management, campaigns, program development, fundraising, stakeholder engagement, education and mobilization.
Brad Parker Brad Parker is a Senior Adviser, Policy and Advocacy, at Defense for Children International - Palestine. He specializes in issues of juvenile justice and grave violations against children during armed conflict and leads DCIP’s legal advocacy efforts on Palestinian children’s rights. Parker regularly writes and speaks on the situation of Palestinian children, particularly issues involving detention, ill-treatment and torture of child detainees within the Israeli military detention system, and violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. He is a co- leader of the No Way to Treat a Child campaign in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne, Jr. is a Democratic congressman representing New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District. A Newark, New Jersey native, he has served the people of the 10th Congressional District since 2012. Rep. Payne, Jr. is a tireless fighter for New Jersey families, working to create jobs and grow the economy, protect and invest in our children, and ensure the health and safety of our communities. As Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness Response, and Recovery, Rep. Payne, Jr. has built a record of achievement in a divided Congress. He introduced two bills that were signed into Public Law by President Barack Obama, including the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act of 2015, which ensures that DHS personnel can reliably communicate during emergencies. American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 35
Josh Ruebner Josh Ruebner is the Managing Director of AMP and author of Shattered Hopes: Obama’s Failure to Broker Israeli- Palestinian Peace and Israel: Democracy or Apartheid State? He is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and previously worked as the Policy Director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights and as an Analyst in Middle East Affairs for Congressional Research Service. He holds a graduate degree in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Near Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan. He is a regular contributor to Mondoweiss, Electronic Intifada, and Alaraby Aljadeed.
Hilary Shelton Hilary Shelton, serves as the Senior Vice President for Policy and Advocacy to the NAACP’s Washington Bureau for over 2 decades. The Washington Bureau is the Federal legislative and national public policy division of the over 500,000 members, 2,200 membership unit, national civil rights organization. In this capacity, Hilary is responsible for advocating the federal public policy issue agenda of the oldest, largest, and most widely recognized grassroots based civil rights organization in the United States to the U.S. Government. Hilary's government affairs portfolio includes crucial issues such as affirmative action, equal employment protection, access to quality education, stopping gun violence, ending racial profiling, abolition of the death penalty, access to comprehensive healthcare, voting rights protection, federal sentencing and prison reform and a host of civil and human rights enforcement, expansion and protection issues.
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin Ahmed Shihab-Eldin is an Emmy-nominated journalist, producer and actor. He recently left his position as a Senior Presenter for AJ+ where he produced award- winning documentaries focused on social justice and human rights to explore new forms of storytelling and developing a soon-to-be launched podcast. Previously Ahmed worked as a reporter and producer for Al Jazeera English, as well as for The New York Times, The Huffington Post and PBS. Ahmed is widely known for creating and co-hosting Al Jazeera English’s flagship program ‘The Stream’, an interactive live talk show nominated for an Emmy Award for Most Innovative Program in 2012. In 2015, Ahmed was a correspondent on six documentaries for the award-winning VICE on HBO which he helped produce. In 2015 and 2016, he was featured on the Arabian Business Power List "100 under 40: The world’s most influential young Arabs." PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL American Muslims for Palestine
Rep. Rashida Tlaib Rashida Tlaib is a well-known progressive warrior and, in her own words, “a mother working for justice for all.” Her two young sons are at the root of her unwavering passion to help change lives for the better. She is the oldest of 14 children, born and raised in Detroit, the proud daughter of Palestinian immigrant parents. Rashida made history in 2008 by becoming the first Muslim woman to ever serve in the Michigan Legislature. She is beloved by residents for the transformative constituent services she provided, and for successfully fighting the billionaires and corporations that tried to pollute her district. When families get to know Rashida, they have no doubt that she will work tirelessly to knock down barriers for real change, and whether by policy or action, she will roll up her sleeves to make sure her residents are cared for, no matter how big the challenge. American Muslims for Palestine PROGRAM BOOKLET AND TRAINING MANUAL 37 6404 Seven Corners Place, Ste. N Falls Church, VA 22044
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